Automatic can handling and liquid dispensing machine



June 7, 1955 F. CHANDLER 2,710,115

AUTOMATIC CAN HANDLING AND LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 13; 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Huh Button 0 W1 To M 24 22 Chmk Valw INVEN TOR.

LEM/6MP (Ari/707a" QQJZ 9 June 7, 1955 E. F. CHANDLER 2,710,115

AUTOMATIC CAN HANDLING AND LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE I Filed July 13, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

gdwrd E 640/107?! ATTORNEY June 7, 1955 E. F. CHANDLER 2,710,115

AUTOMATIC CAN HANDLING AND LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet s NUT SWITCH INVENTOR.

7 E g Ward [Zand/er i9 22 A TTORAE Y Unit AUTOMATIC CAN HANDLING AND LIQUID DISPENSENG MACHINE Edward F. fihandler, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Peter Fries, In, New York, N. Y.

This invention relates to devices for automatically handling canned liquid products including beer, ale, soft drinks, syrups, juices, and the like, and for dispensing the contents of cans containing such'liquids.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine adapted to receive in a magazine a quantity of cans of liquid products, with means for automatically dispensing the contents of the cans from-one or more cans at a time, for use as required.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved canned liquid handling and dispensing machine which is adapted to handle both cans containing "pressurized liquids, and cans containing non-pressurized liquids, with like efliciency.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved canned liquid handling and dispensing machine of the type described, in which aplurality -of'cans of liquid are stored in a hopper or magazine, and fed, one by one, or in any desired plurality, into operative position, whereupon conduit means is connected with the interior of such cans for drawing off the contents into dispensing means, which may be-a faucet, beer tap, or other convenient outlet depending upon the nature of the liquid being dispensed, and in 'which suitable cooling and pressurizing means may be interposed to facilitate the dispensing and consumption of the liquid product.

Still another object of the invention .is to'provide'an improved machine of the type described, which, once the hopper or magazine is filled with cans of liquid, the feeding of such cans to the operative position, drawing ofi oftheir liquid contents, and ejection of'empty cans, is accomplished Wholly automatically, and without "the need for use of any manual intervention by operator.

.Another object of the invention is-to provide an improved canned liquid handling and "dispens 'mg machine which .is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, effective for the purpose intended, :and highly-sanitary 3111 use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the :following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as d llustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which,

Figure 1 is a partly schematic and partly/diagrammatic illustration of the parts of my improved canned liquid handling and dispensing machine, showing the circuit diagram of the interconnection of .its parts, and illustrating in the lower portion in elevationmeansfor automatically feeding the cans into operative position.

Figure 2 is an elevational detail view of aform of can feed track assembly and can positioning means :for emptying the can of liquid, with one :can in operative position,

Figure 3 is a left side elevational View of the device shownlin Figure 2,

-Figure 4 is a sectional elevational "view showing a complete beer dispensing installation according to the invention,

States Patent 2,710,115 Patented June 7, 1955 Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional plan viewofa portion of the device, showing in fragment one'face of't'he can positioning device with means for press'urizingthe can,

Figure 6 is an "enlargedsecti'onal plan view of another portion of the device, adapted to coact with thatof Figure 5 with the can therebetween, and showing in fragment the other face of the can positioning device with means for puncturing and drawing liquid from 'the can,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the system according to 'the invention, showing automatic gravity feed of cans from astora'ge magazine, and also arrangement for 'feeding a plurality of beer taps or other liquid using means.

The present invention deals with the' problems in' automatically handling canned, liquid food products such as beer, ale, carbonated soft drinks, fruit syrups, juices, and other well known foods in liquid form. Such foods are placed on the market in closed 'metal containers, tightly sealed at all seams, and generally known as cans, and it is necessary for means to be provided to draw oft the con-tents of the cans quickly, conveniently and easily, with a minimum of manual labor. Some of these canned products'may be pressurized when canned, as for example, beer or ale, and carbonatedso'ft drinks 'o'r pasteurized food products.

Broadly, the invention provides a machine which cm: braces means for holding a plurality of cans-of a given size and automatically feeding'them, one atntirn'e, or in some predetermined grouping, :to one or more operative devices which puncture or open the can so that its contents may be drawn off or otherwise dispensed. When the can is empty, it isautomatically ejected from the machine and another can takes its place, the operation being such that the replacementof an empty can by a full can does not interrupt the availability of the supply of "liquid at the 'dispen'sing point;

For the purpose of this disclosure, that is, for sirn plicity of illustration only, the machine is shown and described as handling one can at a time, but "it should be understood that, if desired, and Without departing from the spirit of the invention, two or more cans may be simultaneously handled in substantially the samernanner as-one-can. It is possible, Whenhantlling pressufized' canned liquid products, toutilize the'pressure thus afford ed for supplying the liquid under pressure to the dispensing means. However, it is also understood fthat means are also '--'provided'Whereby 'fluid pressure, from an outside source, may='be "applied to the system "for "the same purpose. I

Usually the machine would be connected with a :suitable dispensing means such as'a tap or cock whereby theliquid maybe drawn from a canas andwhen wanted, and in desired 'or measured quantities. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. Between the :tap and the machine, the liquid in its passage, 'may be cooled, heated or otherwise treated, depending upon the nature of the product being handled.

Liquid food products have been "mentioned, but it should he understood that liquid products, other than foods, that are adapted to be "canned,'may'be handled,

where it is desired to draw "off the "liquid in various quanti-ties,'frorn time' to time orcontinuously, as'the case may be, and where it "may be desired 'or"required that a relatively large quantity of 'a liquid be available on draft continuously and without interruption of flowof' liquid irrespective of'the possible, relativelylimited liquid content of the can unit being "employed. Where pressurization from an external source, that is, jexternalfto the "can, 'is employed, such may helfor'either augmenting that of the pressurized product "in the can, or for di-' rectly pressurizing the system to insure the delivery from the canned product supply, of the total contents of the same.

In order to understand clearly the nature of the invention, and the best means for carrying it out, reference may now be had to the drawings, in which like numerals denote similar parts throughout the several views.

As seen best in Figure 1, there is a suitable tap or faucet with an actuating handle 12, which may be used to control the flow of liquid from the system. Liquid is led-to the tap 10 through a supply pipe 14, in which may be situated means 16, which may be a cooling means or means for otherwise conditioning the liquid on its way to the tap 10. The lower end of the pipe 14 extends inside the accumulator tank 18 with its inlet end 20 near the bottom of the tank.

Liquid is supplied to the lower part of the tank through pipe 22, and, being supplied under pressure, the liquid will rise in the tank against pressure accumulating above it in the upper part of the tank. A check valve 24, in pipe 22, prevents back-flow of the liquid product, retaining the same, under pressure in the tank.

Up to this point, it will be seen that if the tap it is opened, the pressure accumulated in the tank 18 will force the liquid through pipe 14 and out of the tap. A clean-out drain cock 26 in pipe 22, permits flushing out the system. The inlet end 28 of the pipe 22 communicates with the interior well chamber 30 of the closed well housing 32. In the chamber 30 is a suitable float 34 pivoted at 36 in the housing Wall, and carrying a contact arm 38 which is thus movable pivotally with the float, which is supported upon the liquid 40 entering the float chamber from pipe 42.

A can supporting plate 44, seen in sectional detail in Figure 6, and preferably stationary, is disposed as shown in Figure 1, and may have a resilient sheet facing on its surface 46 adapted to form a liquid-tight seal for a can end of a can 48 having liquid contents 50 which are to beemptied therefrom, when the can is pressed tightly thereagainst. The plate 44 may have a boss 52 in which is formed a liquid channel 54 communicating with the pipe 42, the duct 54 being enlarged at 56 to form an annular groove adjacent and opening upon the inlet of pipe 42.

Associated therewith is a suitable can-end perforator 58. A can 48 is shown in operable position in the machine, in Figure 1. It is held tightly in place between the plate 44, and the movable member 60, which, as is also shown in Figure 5, may be moved into can holding position by any suitable means, such as by the solenoid 62, the plunger 64 of which carries the plate 60, and which is actuated by current through leads 66 and 68. Member may be provided with a boss 70 or hub, having a channel therethrough which terminates in a pointed can perforator 72, which is forced through the can head and by means of which fluid pressure from pipe 74, may be supplied to the interior of the can 48, to force the liquid out of the same through pipe'42.

Preferably, fluid pressure carried by pipe 74 is restrained frorn flowing until can 48 is securely clamped between the members 44 and 60. This may be accomplished, as shown best in Figure 5, in sectional detail. There, the perforator 72 is mounted on a valve plunger 78 having an axial bore 80 closed at its upper end which forms a valve seated at 82 in the upper end of the duct bore 84, the valve head being shown at 86. The bore 80 communicates at its upper end through a radial bore 88, with the annularly enlarged portion of the hub bore 84. The valve 86 is biased into seating position, blocking flow of pressurizing fluid, by valve spring 92 which bears against the inner floor surface of the guide cup 94, movable in the enlarged circular recess 96.

From Figure 5, it is seen clearly that the valve 86 is normally closed, blocking flow of pressurizing fluid out ofthe perforating tip 72 of the device. However, when a can is placed against the surface 98 of the member 60, the perforator 72 is pressed upwardly as seen in Figure 5, as it perforates the can, simultaneously unseating the valve 86 and allowing pressurizing fluid to enter the can from pipe 74, so that flow from pipe 74 does not commence until completion of the can clamping action described. Carried by the movable member 60 is suitable contact blade means 100, whereby, when in the position shown a circuit is closed through wires 1112 and 104, thus energizing the solenoid 106, as seen in Figures 1 and 6, moving the solenoid plunger 108 carrying the perforator 58, driving the perforator 58 through the can head, opening the supply of liquid from the can 48 to the duct 42 through the slot 110 of the perforator.

When solenoid 62 is tie-energized, member 60 is retracted by suitable spring means 112, so as to leave clear space for entrance of a new filled can 48 into operative position. The solenoid 114 controls member 116 which with its arms 118 and 120 is pivoted at 122, and is biased in the solid line position of Figure 1 by spring 124. The foot 126 of the lever thus is in the path of a can 48 when the solenoid is de-energized, retaining the can in operative position on the inclined plane 128. When the solenoid is de-energized, the arm 12% is upraised, but, when the solenoid 114 is energized, then the arm 120 is lowered into position 130, dotted in Figure 1, to block movement of the next can into operative position, while its foot 126 is upraised to allow the emptied can 48 to roll off the guide chute 128. Thus, when the foot 126 is in lowered, can blocking position, it allows the clamping members 44 and 60 to clamp the can therebetween and hold it until emptied.

As seen in Figure 6, the solenoid plunger 58 carries a collar 132 movable therewith in the enlarged bore portion 134, being biased downwardly as seen in the view by the encircling spring 136 against the stop member 138 mounted in the hub 52. In this position, the inclined cutting edge of the plunger 58 is wholly inside the opening 54. Upon actuation of the solenoid 106, it is clear that the plunger 58 moves upwards as seen in the View, that is to say, in a horizontal direction as seen in Figure 1, to its extended dotted line position shown in Figure 6, so as to perforate the can 48, allowing its contents to enter the pipe 42. The stop collar 109, carried on the lower end of the plunger 108 for movement therewith, serves to limit the upward motion of the perforating plunger.

Referring to Figure 1, it is seen that there is a can retaining lever 149 pivoted at 142 in a slot 144 in the inclined plane member 128, and carrying a switch blade or switch actuating member 146 adapted to travel between its dotted and full line positions to either close the circuit between leads 148 and 150, or between leads 152 leads 148 and 150.

and 154. While a can 48 is in operative position, that is, between the clamping members 44 and 60, the can holds down the arm 140, so as to close the circuit between When the empty can moves out of the operative position, member 146 is moved to position 156, closing the circuit between leads 152 and 154, under the influence of the tension spring 158, and the arm moves'to position 141, in the path of the next can, which is ready to roll down the inclined runway 128.

It will be understood that, should it be preferred to set the cans on end, and feed them in that manner, instead of permitting them to roll into place, mechanical feeding means for the cans would be required, and this manner of feeding may be adopted if desired, without departing from the spirit of the inventive idea. In the mechanism as shown, the empty can is permitted, when released, to roll oif the sloping ramp 160, by gravity.

When the new can comes into place against the stop foot 126, as seen in Figure 1, the circuit at 156 is opened since the can causes the lever to move to solid line position, and switch blade 162, which was in process of closing, moves into closed position, closing the circuit between leads 164 and 166, its blade being carried by solenoid plunger 168 and movable upon actuation of solenoid 170. The motion of the blade is regulated by the dash pot 172.

At this point, the solenoids 62 and 106 are again energized, thus putting the new can on stream, and as the liquid begins to flow from the can into the well 30, the fioat 34 is raised, breaking the circuit betweenleads 180 and 182, preparatory to returning the switch blade 38 to its fullline position for closing the circuit between leads 184 and 186. The solenoid switch coil 170 is thereby de-energized to gradually open the circuit between contacts 164 and 166 at or about the time the circuit is closed at contacts 184 and 186 by the float switch associated with 'the Well '30 which is becoming filled with the liquid 40'from the can.

The status of the machine now,'upon the closing of the circuit between contacts 184 and 186, and the opening of the circuit between contactsf164 and 166,, is. shown again in Figure 1. The cycle is ready to be repeated automatically until all of the 'liquid'has been dispensed from the last can in the magazine.

By preferably providing for the storage of asupply of pressurized liquid in tank 18, there is no interruption of liquid supply at the tap 10 while an empty can is being replaced by a filled can. Also, by means of thetwo-way, delay action or timing switch 162, time is afforded for completing the action of ejecting the emptied can and replacing it by a fullcanin readiness to go on stream before a substantial quantity of-liquid has been drawn from the accumulator tank 18. Afii'oat controlled switch at 32% is shown as the means for.starting the re-cycling of the system when the canhaslbeen emptied. .Any other suitable means may be'employed that will function to accomplish the desired endas described.

The absence of liquid ata point between the can at operative position and the dispensing means 10 might, for example, actuate a phototube wherein the presence or absence of the liquid modifies .the effect of a beam of light, whereby .the desired setting of the switch or the energization of suitable circuits is accomplished. With some liquids, a current may be passed therethrough between two electrodes, the absence of the liquid opening the circuit as and for the'purpose set forth. Or, the difierence in weight between the full and empty can may be employed as another means whereby the desired result may be obtained. Accordingly,'it should be understood that the successful design and operation of the apparatus is not limited to the specific means shown.

Although solenoid means have been illustrated for accomplishing certain functions, it is understood that other mechanical means and motor actuated mechanism may also be likewise employed.

T his invention eliminates the use of the large, heavy, expensive barrels, containers, and the like, and makes for reduced cost of labor in handling and transportation of the containers. It makes possible the use of relatively small, light weight cans that are easily and conveniently handled at the dispensing point. It also eliminates the waste of liquid products that obtains where they are shipped in large containers, barrels and the like, and is especially suitable for such products as ale and beer. Further it affords close control of the product at the dispensing point and does away with heavy trucking of kegs and barrels, their expensive upkeep, high inventory costs, labor and the like.

Means may also be employed to signal at the tap, when the last can has been reached, or the last ten cans, for example, so that the supply of cans in the magazine may be replenished. This may be a simple switch, held open by the last can, or any desired can, and then released to close a signal circuit, ringing a bell or lighting a lamp, indicating, when such can reaches the ramp, that a new supply of cans is needed.

Where liquid products are placed in cans, they may be treated wherenecessary, for avoiding deterioration while in the can. For some products no such treatment may be necessary, for they may not be subject to any substantial deterioration. However, food and beverages may require such treatment, and the nature thereof will be such as is well known in the canning art. Canned beverages such as beer for example, are of such nature that they may not be readily pasteurized, to avoid building up of excessive pressure in the can, and when beer is canned, as is well known in the art, a chemical known as Inhibitor may be employed for preservation purposes.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a complete installation according to the invention,.for serving one ormore beer taps. 10 at the .bar. In the basement, indicated .by the sectioned walls 200, there is a storage compartment 202 for placing a supply of ffilled cans 204, which may be stacked easily with the aid of bin walls 206. .A supply of cans is placed upon the feed runway 128 as illustrated, from which they .run by gravity into operative position between the can clamping members, one by one, to have their contents .drawn off as the taps are turned on at the bar. When the can is empty, the can clamping members release it, and it rolls of]? the runway and drops into the bin at the lower right of the view, marked empty cans, from which they may be removed at intervals. A convenient control switch .is shown at the bar in the upper part of the view, where it can be actuated by the hem tender as needed, to initiate'the cycle already described as in Figure 1.

Figure 7 illustrates an improved vform of device whereby a can storage magazine 210 is disposed above the runway 128 and has walls as illustrated to contain a quantity of filled cans to be fed to the runway as needed. The floor 214 of the can storage magazine is inclined from the horizontal, and has an opening as at 216, through which the cans drop one by one out of the can storage magazine and onto the runway 128, being guided by the curved guide wall 218. From there they are emptied one by one asthey come between the cangrippin-g clamps at 44, and the liquid is drawn off through pipe 22, and through check valve 24, into the tank 18, already explained in Figure 1, from which the liquid enters the header 22d and flows through one or more pipes .222 which correspond to pipe 14 of Figure 1 and lead to one or more taps .at the bar. Thus Figure 7 also shows how a number of beer taps at the bar may be served .froinone .beer can emptying machine, through a number of feed pipes 222, each leading to one of the beer taps, and fed by the common accumulator tank 18.

I claim:

1. A device comprising can gripping means, means for conducting cans of liquid to said can gripping means, automatic means for actuating said can gripping means to grip said cans upon arriving thereat, liquid dispensing means, liquid conduit means connected at one end with said liquid dispensing means, can puncturing means near said can gripping means and constructed and arranged, upon actuation of said can gripping means for puncturing the said cans or" liquid, said liquid conduit means communicating with said can puncturing means for conducting liquid therefrom to said liquid dispensing means.

2. A device comprising can storage means for receiving a plurality of liquid filled cans, inclined runway means adapted to receive said cans from said can storage means and to conduct them to an operative position, can gripping means at said operative position and adapted to grip said cans upon arriving at said operative position, can puncturing means cooperating with said can gripping means and brought into action upon actuation of said can gripping means to puncture said cans at said operative position to afford access to the liquid therewithin, liquid dispensing means, liquid conduit means connected between said liquid dispensing means and said can puncturing means and adapted to conduct said liquid to said liquid dispensing means, and means for regulating the flow of liquid to said liquid dispensing means.

3. A device comprising a frame, a first can gripping clamp member at an operative position, a second can gripping clamp member spaced from said first can gripping clamp member and adapted for clamping motion toward the same, means for storing a quantity of liquid filled cans, means for conducting said cans from said storing means to said operative position between said can gripping clamp members, automatic means brought into action upon arrival of a can at said operative position for actuating said clamp members to grip said can therebetween, can puncturing means carried by at least one of said can gripping clamp members, means for actuating said can puncturing means to afford access to the liquid in said can, liquid dispensing means, and fluid conduit means connected between said can puncturing means and said liquid dispensing means for conducting said liquid thereto, whereby, upon actuating said liquid dispensing means, fluid from said can may be dispensed therefrom.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterized further in that said can puncturing means comprises a plunger, can cutting means carried by said plunger and adapted for movement between extended and retracted positions into and out of said can wall respectively, with a passageway communicating between that portion of said can cutting means adapted for entry into said can and between said liquid conduit means, whereby, upon entry of said can cutting means into said can, the liquid therein is free to flow into said liquid conduit means.

5. A device comprising a frame, a first can gripping clamp member at an operative position, a second can gripping clamp member spaced from said first can gripping clamp member and adapted for clamping motion toward the same, means for storing a quantity of liquid filled cans, means for conducting said cans from said storing means to said operative position between said can gripping clamp members, automatic means brought into action upon arrival of a can at said operative position for actuating said clamp members to grip said can therebetween, can puncturing means carried by at least one of said can gripping clamp members, means for actuating said can puncturing means to afford access to the liquid in said can, liquid dispensing means, fluid conduit means connected between said can puncturing means and said liquid dispensing means for conducting said liquid thereto, whereby, upon actuating said liquid dispensing means, fluid from said can may be dispensed therefrom, second can puncturing means carried by at least one of said can gripping clamp members and having a pressurizing duct extending therethrough, a portion of said pressurizing duct being connectable to a source of fluid under pressure, whereby the fluid in said can may be pressurized to enhance the exit flow thereof through said liquid conduit means. 7

6. A device comprising a frame, a first can gripping clamp member at an operative position, a second can gripping clamp member spaced from said first can gripping clamp member and adapted for clamping motion toward the same, means for storing a quantity of liquid filled cans, means for conducting said cans from said storing means to said operative position between said can gripping clamp members, automatic means brought into action upon arrival of a can at said operative position for actuating said clamp members to grip said can therebetween, can puncturing means carried by at least one of said can gripping clamp members, means for actuating said can puncturing means to afford access to the liquid in said can, liquid dis pensing means, fluid conduit means connected between said can puncturing means and said liquid dispensing means for conducting said liquid thereto, whereby, upon actuating said liquid dispensing means, fluid from said can may be dispensed therefrom, said can puncturing means comprising a plunger, can cutting means carried by said plunger and adapted for movement between extended and retracted positions into and out of said can wall respectively, with a passageway communicating between that portion of said can cutting means adapted for entry into said can and between said liquid conduit means, whereby, upon entry of said can cutting means into said can, the liquid therein is free to flow into said liquid conduit means; and wherein the other of said can gripping clamp members is arranged to move toward said first can gripping clamp member, second can puncturing means carried by said other can gripping clamp member last mentioned and having a pressurizing duct extending therethrough, a portion of said pressurizing duct being connectable to a source of fluid under pressure, whereby the fluid in the can may be pressurized to enhance exit flow thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,902,612 Blossom et al Mar. 21, 1933 2,156,527 Clark May 2, 1939 2,203,710 Young June 11, 1940 2,609,982 Johnson Sept. 9, 1952 

